Ever since the advent of social media, I've been concerned that children are growing up with no connection to the natural world. That connection to the natural world is one of the few things keeping me sane these days.
Hi Kate, glad to 'meet' you! And to read your lovely post. Children's connection with nature, or lack thereof, is something I feel very strongly about, for all kinds of reasons. I hope to start volunteering soon for the Sussex Wildlife Trust as a Wilder Learning assistant, helping kids to enjoy nature. Really looking forward to it! Welcome to Substack!
Well said. This idea has motivated much of my life. Teaching biodiversity when I was still working Mentoring young people in the outdoors (canoeing, camping, fishing, hunting, etc.). If people don’t spend time in nature they won’t really care about the tragic losses we’re causing.
Kate, your photos are a beckoning--an invitation to smell the spring air, taste the green-ness of willows and reeds, to stop for a moment and be still...to put down our phones and be in the moment, not as an observer, but as a deeply entangled participant in the connective tissue of nature. Thank you.
I am the converted for sure, and my children are lucky, because we embrace nature and what she offers where we can, but even so it can feel like an uphill struggle against a society that, that trys to fill their world with other activities packaged to be "more exciting" or at least distracting...
The importance of slowing down sitting beneath a tree watching nature go about its day is underrated in our world... I think perhaps it's a skill to cultivate like a any other, but it offers so very much doesn't it. X
Thank you for reading and sharing! Absolutely—I think you've hit the nail on the head. This is definitely a skill that needs cultivating, perhaps now more than ever.
You may well already have this on your radar, but if you haven't its worth looking at the work if Miles Richardson at Derby University on Nature Connectedness... Research that highlights the importance of this connection, rather than just time spent in nature.... X
Nice article - I’m always writing about willows here on Substack myself. Really I am! But at least the kids found beauty in nature at least as a background and weren’t simply ignoring it.
Ever since the advent of social media, I've been concerned that children are growing up with no connection to the natural world. That connection to the natural world is one of the few things keeping me sane these days.
Hi Kate, glad to 'meet' you! And to read your lovely post. Children's connection with nature, or lack thereof, is something I feel very strongly about, for all kinds of reasons. I hope to start volunteering soon for the Sussex Wildlife Trust as a Wilder Learning assistant, helping kids to enjoy nature. Really looking forward to it! Welcome to Substack!
Thank you for reading, and good to 'meet' you too! That sounds like a really fantastic role—I hope you enjoy it!
Well said. This idea has motivated much of my life. Teaching biodiversity when I was still working Mentoring young people in the outdoors (canoeing, camping, fishing, hunting, etc.). If people don’t spend time in nature they won’t really care about the tragic losses we’re causing.
Absolutely! It seems simple, but I think it is a massive part of the puzzle.
Kate, your photos are a beckoning--an invitation to smell the spring air, taste the green-ness of willows and reeds, to stop for a moment and be still...to put down our phones and be in the moment, not as an observer, but as a deeply entangled participant in the connective tissue of nature. Thank you.
Thank you so much for reading! I'm really glad the photos resonated with you.
I am the converted for sure, and my children are lucky, because we embrace nature and what she offers where we can, but even so it can feel like an uphill struggle against a society that, that trys to fill their world with other activities packaged to be "more exciting" or at least distracting...
The importance of slowing down sitting beneath a tree watching nature go about its day is underrated in our world... I think perhaps it's a skill to cultivate like a any other, but it offers so very much doesn't it. X
Thank you for reading and sharing! Absolutely—I think you've hit the nail on the head. This is definitely a skill that needs cultivating, perhaps now more than ever.
You may well already have this on your radar, but if you haven't its worth looking at the work if Miles Richardson at Derby University on Nature Connectedness... Research that highlights the importance of this connection, rather than just time spent in nature.... X
Absolutely! Thank you for sharing this. I'm also happy to share any of my research with you if this would be helpful or of interest x
I would love to learn more x
I will message you!
fabulous spot.. maybe by beautiful light they, subconsciously at least felt the beauty of their surroundings!
I do hope so!
Lovely, and so true. Sadly.
Absolutely. I think these kinds of tiny moments happen all the time and get dismissed. We can only change them if we first draw attention to them!
Nice article - I’m always writing about willows here on Substack myself. Really I am! But at least the kids found beauty in nature at least as a background and weren’t simply ignoring it.